I’ve read a very interesting article in a blog here.
The author – who appears to be a bit controversial in some of the things he says – makes a really interesting point that we’re doing the terrorists’ job for them. I mean really. Everyone’s panicking like crazy and if you happen to be dark skinned you’re in for a really awkward time travelling at the moment. After all, you must be a terrorist…
I still remember the days of the IRA when the dominant spirit in this country was to be sensibly vigilant, but not to let the terrorist murderers destroy our way of life. The threat of death back then was at the very least as strong as it is now – probably stronger, in truth – and the terrorists could blend in with the majority population more easily, being white. Precautions were taken, but nothing like the trigger-happy, pseudo macho posturings we’re getting at the moment. Proportionality seems to have been overlooked.
Yes, it’s a tragedy that 57 people died in London on July 7th last year. Nothing is ever going to make that anything other than a tragedy. But it’s also a tragedy that up to 2,000 elderly people will die in the UK this year because of cold weather. I think it’s a tragedy that a similar number will die in the UK due to flu. It’s an even bigger tragedy that many thousands of people will die because they were sold an addictive substance under the guise of cigarette pleasure. And it’s a tragedy that makes me weep that little children will die in the UK this year because their parents are violently abusive. These things are all close to home, being in the UK. But it’s an equal tragedy that in this world of excess that we in the West inhabit so little thought is given to the starving millions – millions, for God’s sake – around the world.
I remember a performance Bill Hicks gave on Channel 4 over here a few years ago and he made a point that has haunted me ever since. What if we took all the money we burn on excessive defence and consumption and made sure every person on the planet was fed and clothed. Not one person excluded. Not one. What would that be like? Is the cure for cancer languishing in the undeveloped brain of a child in Africa who will die before getting the chance the impact the world in a significant way? Is clean, plentiful energy waiting to be discovered by a child in Brazil who will never get out of the ghetto far enough to try?
I guess we’ll never find out.
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